Dumb ? about timing
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,513
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Can you confirm if the one mark on the crank is TDC?
If so, you can:
Buy tape with the degrees on it, if you are lucky enough to find it for your damper size. Or find it at all.
Make your own mark by either sectioning off the damper and marking it yourself.
( you know, one line is 180, two perpendiculars is 90, half of that 45, half of that 22.5, half 11.25 etc)
Or make your own tape by measuring the diameter of the harmonic balancer and do the math to determine circumference and then divide by 360 for degrees or 36 for 10 degrees at a time.. (circumference = pi x diameter)
Go here for the full number for pi, as you want to get a close as you can to reduce error.
Or, you could just time it by ear. Move the dizzy until you get the best idle.
Then go out and run the hell out of it. If it pings, back it off and try again.
I found 8 degrees was the max for my 289 on the free gas my old man supplied on the farm....
If so, you can:
Buy tape with the degrees on it, if you are lucky enough to find it for your damper size. Or find it at all.
Make your own mark by either sectioning off the damper and marking it yourself.
( you know, one line is 180, two perpendiculars is 90, half of that 45, half of that 22.5, half 11.25 etc)
Or make your own tape by measuring the diameter of the harmonic balancer and do the math to determine circumference and then divide by 360 for degrees or 36 for 10 degrees at a time.. (circumference = pi x diameter)
Go here for the full number for pi, as you want to get a close as you can to reduce error.
Or, you could just time it by ear. Move the dizzy until you get the best idle.
Then go out and run the hell out of it. If it pings, back it off and try again.
I found 8 degrees was the max for my 289 on the free gas my old man supplied on the farm....
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,667
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
Originally Posted by beaners1
My mistake on the ignition, my truck had the eec system on it the van has the duraspark systen on it. The module has the number 12A199 on it, not sure if it's the I, II, or III system. The sticker under the hood says 10 degrees at 500 rpm with the vacuum advance disconnected and plugged. I just don't know where 10 degrees is.
Let us know the color, if it is some other color lets know that too but these are the most common.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 239
Likes: 1
Thanks alot, I'll have to check on the color code, didn't know that, I have done the measuring of the balancer on my race car and tried to set it at 34 degrees and got it to 28, not bad but not close enough in my opinion. I can't confrim that the notch is TDC thats why I asked what I thought to be a dumb guestion but it truns out that there are no dumb questions. Again thanks for all the input, I'm sure we'll get it right eventually.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,667
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
Originally Posted by beaners1
Ok just checked the insulator wire is blue.
One more thing, do you have a vacuum diaphragm on the distributor?
Are there any wires down around the Vibration damper?
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, OH
Also if you still have the vacuum diagram on the core support it will say EECIII, or Duraspark 2, or whatever it is. It may also say CATALYST, or NON-CATALYST.
I have the DS2 system, but my grommets are yellow. I also have the cali-emissions model.
I have the DS2 system, but my grommets are yellow. I also have the cali-emissions model.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,667
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
Originally Posted by beaners1
Didn't see anything about what ignition it is on the diagram but it does say catalyst, no wires by the dampner.
Also someone may have converted this from a DP III to a DP II.
Last edited by subford; Sep 28, 2006 at 12:51 PM.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 239
Likes: 1
OK I cheated and found a guy with an adjustable timing light, seems to have more power, haven't driven it long enough to get it warmed up yet. Thanks for all the help, this is what makes this site so great.